Received?

Received?

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 AMPC

God is defined from the perspective of giving. Everywhere you turn in the Bible, you see God going out of His way to seek out men, so He can give of Himself to man. John 3:16 defines this so well where it gives the greatest picture of God's giving, where He gives His own son as the sacrifice for sin. When we respond to this gift, we receive the Spirit of God, which confirms our new ownership.

What is this new spirit? Today's extract tells us what it is and what it is not. There is no sitting on the fence on this one. The devil also wants to make an impression on our spirits too if we let him. The devil can only give you out of what he has, which is fear and timidity. He is not the final authority on what is good; God is. When I look at my life and my pursuits, priorities and allegiances, it will be very clear who is in charge.

What God gives is the spirit that further underlines who God is. His spirit is one of power, and it is not a wonder as God is the all-powerful One. His spirit is one of love, and God of course is One of Love. Self control is one of the fruit of the spirit. Indeed, the fruit of your life and the things that flow out of you are the proof of your ownership. So, which kind of spirit have you received? His time of favour is here.